Galapagos Island Wonders aboard the ‘Seaman Journey’ Cruise

The experience begins with a hotel pick-up and a visit to Santa Clara Market, one of Quito’s most vibrant and authentic local spaces. Amidst colorful stalls of flowers, fresh produce, handwoven baskets, and ceramics, the atmosphere reflects the daily rhythm of life in the city. A freshly prepared juice adds a refreshing start, while an optional traditional limpia (energy cleansing) with a local healer offers a unique cultural connection through ancestral Andean practices.

The morning continues with a stop at La Basílica, the largest neo-Gothic church in Latin America. Its intricate architecture and towering spires provide an extraordinary setting, with sweeping views of Quito from its upper walkways offering a memorable perspective on the city’s blend of history and modern life.

Further into the historic center, the cobbled streets of La Ronda open into a world of creativity and tradition. Once a gathering place for artists, poets, and musicians, the neighborhood remains a cultural cornerstone. Inside a metalworking studio, pre-Columbian techniques—passed down through generations for over 11,000 years—are brought to life as local artisans guide the crafting of small artistic pieces. When available, the experience continues at a leather or inlay workshop, where traditional methods used in making classic bargueños are showcased.

At Casa de la Negra Mala, also known as the “Murcielagario,” the city’s culinary roots take center stage. Inside this historic colonial home, a cooking session led by Vicky, the owner of a celebrated Quito eatery, highlights the flavors of the region. Traditional empanadas de morocho are prepared together, served with fresh naranjilla juice and locally roasted coffee.

The journey continues along the Street of the Seven Crosses, where two iconic churches reveal the contrasts in Quito’s history and architecture. La Compañía de Jesús, with its lavish baroque design covered in gold leaf, reflects the wealth and artistic ambition of the Jesuits. In contrast, the nearby San Francisco Church, the oldest in the city, embodies a more austere and spiritual Franciscan style—highlighting two distinct eras and philosophies in Quito’s colonial past. Nearby, in a beautifully preserved colonial home, a chocolate tasting features premium dark chocolate paired with wine or hot cocoa, followed by a rich, handmade brownie.

In Plaza Grande, the city’s central square, centuries of learning and legend converge. San Gregorio Magno, Quito’s first university and now home to the National Library, stands as a testament to its academic legacy. Inside the Archbishop’s Palace, the storytelling continues with tales such as the legend of Father Almeida, complemented by traditional sweets including mistelas, caca de perro, maní, and dulce de leche.

Before returning to the hotel, an optional stop can be made at a traditional bakery for a final taste of freshly baked Quito-style bread and a warm cup of local coffee.

Additional experiences—such as entrance tickets or specialized workshops—may be added at an extra cost, extending the total duration of the tour. All elements can be adapted or tailored based on guest preferences.

On this day you will fly to the Galapagos Island. Due to the Galapagos Government, a fee of 20 USD must be paid for the migration control card (included). Once in San Cristobal, passengers must go through an inspection point at the airport to make sure that no foreign plants or animals are being introduced to the archipelago. Also, this inspection point is where passengers have to pay for the entrance to the Galapagos National Park (included). Later on, your guide will pick you up and will carry your luggage to the bus. Passengers will arrive at the Catamaran Seaman Journey on a motorized boat called Panga.

This is an interpretation center with exuberant gardens and stunning ocean views. Visitors at the interpretation center can learn a lot from the geological and human history of the islands, conservation facts, and natural history. This is the oldest museum of Natural History in the Galapagos Islands which attempts to preserve the archipelago. It is indeed inspiring and motivating to watch and learn all of their research and attempts.

A short visit will take place at the Galapaguera, a good place to observe Galapagos tortoises in their natural habitat. San Cristobal island has endemic species such as: the Mockingbird Nesomimus melanotis, lava lizard (Microlophus bivittatus), Chatham Leaf-toed Gecko (Phyllodactylus leei), and the tortoises. All of these species can be observed in this place, the beach is really big and it works as a nesting zone for marine tortoises. Between January and May, it is common to find the footprints of the female tortoises who have climbed to the dunes to deposit their eggs! This truly is a worthy experience to be a part of.

Cerro Brujo is a beautiful white coral beach where you can swim and watch birds and sea lions, plus you can snorkel. This is the first coast that Charles Darwin walked on, in 1835. In this marvelous lava landscape, you can watch seabirds like blue-footed boobies, Nazca boobies, herons, frigate birds and shore birds. The protected bay is well known for its young tortoises which like to swim around.

The pools with salty water behind the dunes were used by the fishermen as a salt mine to preserve food for the local population. Among the fauna you can observe the Chatham Mockingbird and the San Cristobal Lava Lizards, both species are endemic to the island and unique to the area. Furthermore, you will see the Galapagos turtles and with luck, the little bird known as the Pájaro Brujo in Spanish, an endemic species in San Cristobal Island. The vegetation covers all the route, where you can find species like the candelabrum cactus and carob trees. Located on the north coast of Isla San Cristobal it is a peaceful place with white sand and crystal water, a perfect combination for an incredible stay.

Located on the north-eastern coast of Hood, Gardner Bay offers an excellent beach to relax, swim, and even kayak, plus the opportunity to observe sea lions (Zalophus wollebaki), here we can also observe sharks in the crystal-clear ocean waters. At this place, you can see three species of Darwin finches: A subspecies of the large-billed cactus finch (Geospiza fuliginosa), which is similar to the large-billed terrestrial finch; The small-beaked ground finch (Geospiza fuliginosa and; The singing finch (Certhidea olivacea) which is another endemic subspecies. Both resident and migratory birds are observed.

This area is great for spotting blue-footed boobies, albatrosses, and Nazca boobies. A beautiful site on the oceanfront, the large waved albatrosses use the cliff as a launching pad. The famous attraction is the magnificent blowhole, spurting water high into the air at least 50 to 75 meters high. This site presents wonderful photography opportunities.

This site offers probably the best flamingo lagoon in the Galapagos; it is also one of the largest in the islands. It’s situated between two tuff lava cones that give the area a special atmosphere. There are various species of shorebirds to observe besides flamingos; the most frequent are common stilts, white-checked pintail ducks, and other migratory birds. It is very interesting to see the two distinct beaches: “The Green Beach” (due to its high percentage of olivine crystals in the sand) and the “Flour Sand Beach” which is made up of coral. After the interesting walk, the group is taken to Champion Islet, a great place to enjoy snorkeling and underwater wildlife. Some of the animals that can be seen are sea turtles, sea lions, and multiple fish thanks to the nearby coral reef.

Historically, this site is the location of a wooden barrel that was placed in the 18th century by the crew of a whaling ship. It has been used since this time by marines and tourists as a post office. The idea is to carry letters or postcards to their destination by hand. Besides, this site was the landing area for some of the first colonists. This day’s afternoon is thought to be a relaxing time for visitors to enjoy the beach and the beauty of the Galapagos.

Although the great majority of Galapagos visitors come here to observe and appreciate natural wonders, it is also interesting to learn how the protection and conservation of the islands are carried out. This path offers the possibility to learn aspects and feel synchronized with nature.